Symmetrical bridle wire



Dec. 22, 1964 c. w. ANDERSEN 3,

SYMMETRICAL BRIDLE WIRE Filed May 2, 1963 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent (thin Filed May 2, M63, Ser. No. 277,5tl7 9 Claims. tCCl. dd- -Z i-il} This invention relates generally to pianos and analogous musical instruments and relates more particularly to the piano action component known as a bridle wire.

In piano action mechanisms, particularly those of the upright type, a flexible link known as a bridle tape or bridle strap cooperates in connecting the hammer butt with the whip. The bridle tape serves to prevent the fly or jack from escaping from a position beneath the hammer butt upon disconnection of the sticker from its respective piano key lever. Moreover, the bridle tape helps to return the hammer from striking engagement with its associated piano string and, on certain speeds of action operation, precludes the hammer from striking undirected repetitive blows.

According to conventional practice, a post-type connector known as a bridle wire is employed in affixing one end of the bridle tape to the whip, the tape being punched with a hole to receive the bridle wire and the wire being laterally deflected beneath its upper end to hold the tape in a selected position. The lateral defle tion of the bridle wire is ordinarily performed prior to its assembly to the whip; and the resultant asymmetrical character of the bridle wire frustrates automatic feeding thereof and necessitates manual loading of each bridle wire into the drivers.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a symmetrical bridle wire that is capable of being handled and fed automatically.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bridle Wire construction.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following disclosure.

A bridle wire construction in accord with the invention includes an elongated, radially symmetrical shank and a formation on the shank closely adjacent to one end thereof defining a radial enlargement adapted to prevent migration of a cooperating bridle strap, the enlargement having at least one axis of symmetry corresponding to the axis of symmetry of the shank.

In order that the principles of the invention may be readily understood, several embodiments thereof, but to which the application is not to be restricted, are shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a central sectional view taken through a piano structure to show the operating elements thereof, including a bridle wire that is constructed in compliance with the invention; 7

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the bridle wire member used in the piano structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged view of the free end portion of a modified embodiment of the bridle wire of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to the showing of FIG. 3 but illustrating bending of the upper portion of the bridle wire member after the same has been assembled to a cooperating whip;

PEG. 5 is an enlarged view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, elevational view of the top portion of a further modified bridle wire constructed in compliance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to the showing of FIG. 6 but ice illustrating a yet further modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is another view similar to the showing of FIG. 6 but illustrating an additional, modified embodiment of the invention;

FlG. 9 is still another showing similar to that of FIG. 6 and illustrating a further modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view taken substantially along the line lid-Aid of FIG. 9.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specifically to MG. 1, a piano structure is shown to include a front panel 2%, a keybed 22 and a frame 2 2-. In accordance with conventional practice, a backplate 26 is allixed to the frame 24 for supporting piano strings such as piano string 28. in further accord with conventional practice, a balance rail, not shown, is mounted on a plate 30 that is fastened to the keybed 22, the balance rail acting to support and fulcrum a number of piano key levers such as piano key lever 32.

Depression of the forward end of piano key lever 32 is arranged to cause a striking of the corresponding piano string through a piano action mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 34. The action mechanism 34 is mounted in the piano structure by means of a number of action brackets 36, each of the action brackets 36 being fastened to the backplate 2 6 by means including a tubular action spacer A main rail as, a spring rail 42 and a hammer rail 44 extend through the piano structure to be aihxed to each of the action brackets 36 for purposes of supporting the individual action components.

The action mechanism 34 includes a hammer 46 which is mounted to a butt knuckle 4% by a hammer shank 50, the butt knuckle 453 being pivotally mounted to the main rail by a butt flange 52 and a pivot pin 54. Depression of the piano key lever 32 is arranged to actuate hammer by means of a sticker or abstract 56 that is detachably afixed at one end to the key lever 32 by means of a keyfork 58 and a rubber grommet 60. The sticker 56 is swingably mounted at its other end to a Whip 62 by means of a pivot pin at. The whip 62 is pivotally mounted to the main rail 40 by a Whip flange 66 and a pivot pin 68. Thus, the whip 62 and the hammer butt i8 are mounted to swing about pivot axes which are spaced apart from one another. A fly or jack 71) is pivotally mounted and spaced apart from whip 62 by an integral fly flange 72.. A depression of piano key lever 32 causes actuation of the hammer 46 by transmitting force thereto through the fly or jack and the butt knuckle 4-3.

A partially felt-surfaced backcheck 7c is mounted on the whip 62 in upstanding relationship by means of a backcheck wire or rod 78; and a cooperatively felt-surfaced catcher d-h is secured to the butt knuckle 48 by means of a catcher stem or shank 82 which radiates from the butt knuckle. In order to provide a flexible connection between the butt knuckle All) and the whip 62, a bridle strap member 84 is attached to the catcher shank 82 at its juncture with the catcher hill. The bridle strap memher 54 conventionally includes a tape or length of woven fabric and a reinforcingelement. One end of the tape is wedged with the end of catcher shank 82 into an appropriate bore formed in the catcher 3d, and the reinforcing element is adhesively or otherwise suitably attached to the free end of the tape, the reinforcing element being fabricated from leather, synthetic leather or other tough rnaterial.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, the flexible connection between the whip 62 and the hammer butt 48 is completed by a symmetrical bridle wire member 86 that is secured at one end to the whip 62 to extend toward a position generally adjacent the hammer butt 48. The

bridle strap member 84 is perforated with a hole adjacent its otherwise free end to receive the bridle wire member 86. The action mechanism 34 also includes a metal spoon which is affixed to the whip 62 in upstanding relationship, being disposed on the end of the whip which is opposite the connection with abstract 56. Upon actuation of the whip 62 by means of the key lever 32, the spoon 83 contacts one end of a damper lever 90, damper lever 90 being swingably mounted to the main rail 40 by means of a damper lever flange 92 and a pivot pin 94. The spoon 88 is specifically arranged to operate damper lever 91) so as to retract a damper head 96 from contact with the piano string 28 immediately in advance of the hammer 46 striking the string.

Turning now to a consideration of FIG. 2, the symmetrical bridle wire member 86 is seen to include an elongated, radially symmetrical shank 1% which specifically takes cylindrical shape. The shank 1% is provided with a knurled end 102 that is adapted to be driven into the body of whip 62 as is shown in FIG. 1. The knurled portion 102 terminates in a conical tip 104 that is employed in leading the knurled portion into the material of the whip. At its opposite end, the shank 103' includes a free-end portion 196 that is sized to pass freely through the hole in bridle strap member 84, the free-end portion 106 terminating in a conical tip 108 which serves to lead the free-end portion into the hole in the bridle strap member.

In compliance with the invention, a strap-locating portion 110 is located on the shank 1% beneath the free-end portion 106, and the formation 11% is arranged to define a radial enlargement which is adapted thereby to prevent migration of the bridle strap member along the shank in a direction away from the free-end portion. In specific accord with the invention, the formation 119 is arranged to possess at least one axis of symmetry; and in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the formation 11% is fashioned as an annular plate, the major diameter of which greatly exceeds the diameter of the hole fashioned in the cooperating bridle strap member.

A second strap-locating formation 112 is spaced between the free-end portion 106 and the formation 11% to define a second radial enlargement that is selected to be of greater radial extent than the free-end portion 1% but of less radial extent than the formation 110. Thus, the formation 112 may be forcibly passed through the 'hole in the bridle strap member while subsequently being capable of resisting accidental migration of the bridle strap along the shank 1% in the direction of the free-end portion 106. The formation 112 specifically takes the form of an annular disc of somewhat lesser thickness than the disc comprising the formation 11% ft is to be recognized that the cylindrical shank 1% and the annular discs 110 and 112 which collectively comprise the bridle wire member 86 constitute a radially symmetrical element which is susceptible of automatic handling and feeding during assembly of the bridle wires to their respective turning to FIGS. 3-5, a modified bridle wire member is seen indicated generally by the numeral 36a. Since the embodiment of FIGS. 35 contains members which are similar to those found in the embodiment of HG. 2, like numerals have been used to designate like parts with the sufiix letter a being employed to distinguish those elements associated with the embodiment of FIGS. 35. More particularly, the bridle Wire member @612 is characterized by the shape and configuration of the formation 110a, the elimination of any strap-locating formation lar.

between the formation a and the free-end portion 106:: and the provision of a bendable section 11d intermediate the free-end portion and the formation 119a.

The formation 110a specifically comprises two radially spaced, diametrically disposed flanges 116 which develop bi-lateral symmetry in the formation 11%, as is well shown in PEG. 5. The extent of the symmetry of formation 110a is coupled with the cylindrical character of shank 10911 to permit automatic feeding and handling of the bridle wire member Sea. However, means must also be provided for restraining the bridle strap member on the bridle wire member after the bridle wire member has been assembled to the cooperating whip; and in the bridle wire member 8611, the bendable section 114 provides these means. After the bridle wire member 86a has been assembled to the cooperating whip the free-end portion 106a may be deflected by distortion of the bridle wire member at the bendable section 114 as is shown in FIG. 4, the angle of deflection y advantageously being approximately twenty degrees. When so deflected, the free-end portion 1% is sufficiently angulated to resist accidental migration of the bridle strap member therefrom.

A bendable section at the base of the free-end portion of the bridle wire member may be combined with straplocating formations of various shape and character. Therefore, and in order to enhance the understanding of the invention, four additional embodiments of the bridle wire member of the invention are shown in FlGS. 6-10. The embodiments of FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIGS. 9 and 10 have their elements distinguished respectively by the sufiix letters b, c, d, and e.

The bridle wire member 86b of FIG. 6 combines a benad'ole section 11412 with a strap-locating formation 11% which takes the form of an annular plate or disc. On the other hand, the bridle wire member 860 of FIG. 7 combines a bendable section 114a with a strap-locating formation 11ththat takes the shape of a cylindrical col- Further, the bridle wire member 86d of FIG. 8 incorporates a strap-location formation 110d that is fashioned as a knurled collar, the knurling of which corresponds to the knurling at the attachment end of the bridle wire member. The embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 is particularly characterized by utilizing a straplocating formation 11de that is comprised of four radially spaced flanges 113, the flanges 118 being arcuately spaced at right angular intervals whereby to define a straplocating formation possessed of quadrilateral symmetry.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not strictly limited thereto since many modifications may be made; and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the present application any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In a piano action assembly, the combination comprising: a whip mounted to swing about a first pivot axis; a hammer butt mounted to swing about a second pivot axis spaced from said first pivot axis; a flexible bridle strap member fixed at one end relatively to said hammer butt and perforated with a hole adjacent the other end to receive a bridle wire member; and a symmetrical bridle Wire member secured at one end to said whip to extend toward a position adjacent said hammer butt, said bridle wire member having a free-end portion for freely passing through said hole, a medially disposed, first strap-locating portion providing a formation enlarged in a radial direction whereby to prevent migration of said strap member along said wire member in a direction away from said free-end portion, and a second strap-locating portion disposed intermediate said first strap-locating portion and said free-end portion, said second strap-locating portion providing a formation enlarged in a radial direction, said second mentioned formation being of greater radial extent than said free-end portion but of lesser radial extent 52 than said first mentioned formation whereby to be forcibly passable through the hole in said bridle strap member and whereby to resist accidental migration of said strap member along said wire member in the direction of said freeend portion.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said bridle wire member is radially symmetrical.

3. A symmetrical bridle wire for use in a piano action assembly, comprisng: an elongated, radially symmetrical shank having a free-end portion adapted to be passed through a cooperating hole in an associated bridle strap; and a formation on said shank beneath said free-end portion defining a radial enlargement adapted to prevent migration of said strap along said shank in a direction away from said free-end portion, said enlargement having at least one axis of symmetry for cooperation with the symmetry of said shank whereby to permit automatic handling of said bridle wire.

4. A symmetrical bridle wire for use in a piano action assembly, comprising: an elongated, radially symmetrical shank having a free-end portion adapted to be passed through a cooperating hole in an associated bridle strap; a first formation on said shank beneath said free-end portion defining a radial enlargement adapted to prevent migration of said strap along said shank in a direction away from said free-end portion, said enlargement having at least one axis of symmetry; and a second formation on said shank intermediate said free-end portion and said first formation, said second formation defining a radial enlargement of greater radial extent than said free-end 30 portion but of lesser radial extent than said first formation for permitting forcible passage through the hole in the bridle strap member and to resist accidental migra- 7 tion of said strap along said shank in the general direction of said free-end portion, said second formation defining an enlargement having at least one axis of symmetry for cooperating with the symmetry of said shank and first formation whereby to permit automatic handling of said bridle wire.

5. A bridle wire according to claim 3 wherein said shank portion has a bendable section between said freeend portion and said formation whereby to facilitate the deflection of said free-end portion away from said strap References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,403 Ammon Jan. 17, 1905 2,383,301 Farny Aug. 21, 1945 2,917,962

Ballet Dec. 22,1959 

3. A SYMMETRICAL BRIDLE WIRE FOR USE IN A PIANO ACTION ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED, RADIALLY SYMMETRICAL SHANK HAVING A FREE-END PORTION ADAPTED TO BE PASSED THROUGH A COOPERATING HOLE IN AN ASSOCIATED BRIDLE STRAP; AND A FORMATION ON SAID SHANK BENEATH SAID FREE-END PORTION DEFINING A RADIAL ENLARGEMENT ADAPTED TO PREVENT MIGRATION OF SAID STRAP ALONG SAID SHANK IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID FREE-END PORTION, SAID ENLARGEMENT HAVING AT LEAST ONE AXIS OF SYMMETRY FOR COOPERATION WITH THE 